'Got drunk to forget': F1 star's battle revealed

Even the ever smiling Daniel Ricciardo found it hard to find a bright side to his Australian Grand Prix qualifying disaster, admitting he had let his army of fans down. Can he do better in the race? FOLLOW LIVE

Herald Sun March 17, 2019 7:23AM

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Last updated March 17, 2019 4:12PM AEDT

Even the ever smiling Daniel Ricciardo found it hard to find a bright side to his Australian Grand Prix qualifying fizzer, admitting he had let his army of fans down.

The Australian star started 12th on the 20-strong grid for Sunday’s Formula 1 season opener in an underwhelming debut for new team Renault.

Ricciardo had played down his 2019 podium chances since making a shock exit from front-runners Red Bull but still couldn’t hide his qualifying disappointment.

“I race, first and foremost for myself, but part of me was bummed for the crowd,” he said. “I know they would have loved to see me in Q3. That’s where I felt I came up short, for them.

“I blame myself. The grip was there to go quicker. It’s always painful when you know you haven’t got 100 per cent out of it.”